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Consumer Alert: Cylindrical Lithium-ion Batteries


Have You Purchased a Cylindrical Lithium-Ion Battery Device?

Paynter Law is investigating the design, manufacturing, marketing, and sale of certain e-cigarette and vape devices. We are currently investigating batteries and devices including, but not limited to:

  • iStick Pico
  • iStick MIX
  • 18650 lithium-ion batteries

If you are a consumer who has purchased one of these devices and/or batteries, we encourage you to contact us today by filling out the form below and learn more about your rights and options. You may be entitled to compensation.

E-cigarettes and vape devices are often marketed as a safer alternative to traditional cigarettes. Unfortunately, consumers are unaware that many of these devices use a type of cylindrical lithium-ion battery that is more likely to violently explode than other types of batteries.


In October 2014, the U.S. Fire Administration released a report titled “Electronic Cigarette Fires and Explosions”. The report confirmed that the danger from vaping-related battery fires is related to the use of cylindrical lithium-ion batteries (such as the 18650 batteries commonly used in vaping devices).

The report also confirmed that the combination of the cylindrical battery inside of a vaping device presents a particular risk:

E-cigarettes are different from other electronic consumer devices because the battery is installed in a cylindrical device that has its weakest (structural) point at the ends. When the battery seal (at the end of the battery) ruptures, the pressure within the e-cigarette cylinder builds quickly and instantly ruptures, usually at the end. As a result of the battery and container failure, one or the other, or both, can be propelled across the room like a bullet or small rocket.

In July 2017, the U.S. Fire Administration issued an update to its October 2014 report and stated that the number of fires and explosions related to the use of vaping devices – and specifically related to the lithium-ion batteries used by the devices – had increased, with the U.S. media reporting 195 separate incidents of explosions and fires involving vaping devices between January 2009 and the end of December 2016. The report concluded:

Lithium-ion batteries should not be used in e-cigarettes. While the number of batteries that explode and catch fire is statistically small, the catastrophic nature of the injuries that can occur warrants the use of another battery technology for e-cigarettes.
Even in light of this report and warning, consumers are still not being warned of the dangers.

In The News
NY Times: “Exploding Vape Pen Kills a Florida Man” (May 16, 2019)
CNN: “A Man Dies After His E-cigarette Explodes In His Face” (February 5, 2019)
NBC: “Mom, Toddler Burned by E-cigarette Explosion” (November 20, 2018)